JEHOVAH-JIREH, HE SEES AND PROVIDES
When I opened up my new box of Christmas cards, the thing
that struck my heart the loudest was in the verse on the inside, Luke 2:7: “And
she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and
laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.”
“No room for them in the inn”?!! Even though Mary was
obviously ready to give birth, no one offered them a room, or traded them
sleeping quarters, or even room to share—not much empathy there for a very
pregnant mother!
No room for them. The majority of Hebrew people who
showed up in Bethlehem to pay taxes were housed, comfortable, warm, and had
provisions, but the holy couple were alone, and treated as strangers. Joseph
and Mary knew who they were, knew their special gifts; had not the angel of God
come to Mary and tell her she had a very special anointing, to birth the Christ
child?! And yet so very few even recognized who they were.
Maybe you’ve felt like that at times; not honored? unrecognized?
alone? Even with all those Hebrew believers around, so few responded. Later in
life, Jesus spoke: “And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was
for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt. 11:14).
And with Joseph and Mary it was the shepherds in the
nearby hills who had ears to hear, and came to worship the savior of the world,
the light of God, the gift of purity, excellence, and everlasting life right
before their eyes in this tiny baby; a baby so perfect, how could he not be the
most astonishing and beautiful baby those shepherds had ever seen in their
lives?
And the shepherds were even blessed with a host of angels
showing up in all their majesty, “a multitude of the heavenly host praising
God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
toward men’” (Luke 2: 13b-14). An amazing episode for the shepherds and for
Mary and Joseph, too!
This story makes me think of one of the names for God from
the Old Testament, Jehovah-jireh, the God who sees and provides. And indicated
in this name is that He provides the uncommon, the unusual, the unexpected. Certainly,
the shepherds didn’t expect angels, and Mary and Joseph didn’t expect a group
of shepherds to show up and be so excited about the birth of their son. But
that’s how wonderfully our God works.
The first place this name, Jehovah-jireh, is used is with
Abraham (Gen. 22:1-14), when God asked if he was willing to sacrifice his son
Isaac, and because Abraham was in covenant with God and had total trust in Him,
he got as far as pulling out his knife! But Jehovah-jireh, the God who sees and
provides, stopped Abraham, and gave him a ram to sacrifice instead.
When none of their Hebrew brethren in Bethlehem recognized
Joseph and Mary’s anointing, our God, Jehovah-jireh, saw and provided the most
unusual greeting. The shepherds came and they even got to experience the
existence of a host of magnificent angels!
When it seems like sometimes there is no room at the inn
for us, we never despair, because God sees our hearts committed to Him in the
best way we know how, and He does not forget His covenant with us. Jehovah-jireh
sees and provides.
“Oh
that men would praise the Lord for his
goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children
of men!” (Psa.107:8).
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Love, Carolyn
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